10 Things to Consider When Choosing IVF Treatment In Spain

An increasing number of couples consider travelling abroad for fertility treatment, yet choosing a good IVF treatment fertility clinic is never easy, and people need to know that medical intervention abroad is not free of risk.

There are many countries now offering IVF treatments, with a few destinations standing out. Up to 40% of European IVF treatments abroad take place in Spain.

But wherever you choose to go, and in order to make a meaningful choice, here are some specific points to consider when choosing a clinic abroad.

1.Your medical practitioner or gynaecologist knows best

He or she is the one who knows your case, your history and your evolution. Often couples have too many sources of information and this can be confusing. Share information, doubts and questions with your medical practitioner – that is what they are there for.

2. Choose quality internet sources

Follow your medical practitioner’s advice when it comes to information about treatments that best suit your situation, and take time to understand them. Read about the latest IVF treatments and technologies – after all, the science and medical field is continually researching and developing new products to improve results. Use videos available on YouTube and serious medical or patient sites, but do not trust every opinion in internet forums.

3. Patient experience

Doctors are the best source for answers to medical questions, but experienced patients know about quality of care, pros and cons of clinics, evaluation of physicians, labs and teams, as well as prices. When consulting other patients go to specialised forums.

4. Science, research and quality assurance

Clinics that do no research offer standard solutions and often do not know about the latest medical developments. They are also usually too small to afford the latest technologies. Size matters, but remember, on the flip side, too big can mean too impersonal.

5. Organise your information to help you with decision making

Once you have read up on the range of treatments, medical issues, processes, technologies and quality of care, make an Excel spreadsheet where you include pregnancy results, external evaluations of physicians, the lab and the team. Also, ensure the clinic tests donors and couples for genetic disease with preconceptional screening, so that risk of hereditary diseases is reduced to a minimum before pregnancy.

6. Size is not everything

Although IVF treatments are expensive and price is a barrier for many couples, choosing a low-cost location may be risky or more expensive in the end, because more cycles might be needed. And wherever you go, ask what happens if things go wrong – search for medical and safety standards and also ensure the local medical system will take care of you in case of complications. Also look for the standards and practices of embryology labs: half of the success of IVF will depend on them!

Check if there are governmental regulations, health inspections and if they are audited. You can find this information in numerous scientific journals.

7. Compare centres

The best website does not necessarily mean the best option for you. It shows that the marketing budget is high, but try instead to get to know the physician who may treat you. Ask for online consultations to boost your research.

8. Select two to three clinics

Make a final selection of four to six clinics and focus on specific results for cases like yours. Your categories should be transparent in terms of pricing, personal care, honesty, plus experience of doctors and embryologists.

9. Arrange for an online consultation

The online consultation will enable you to go a long way towards gauging if the physician is professional, competent and empathic. During a first consultation a good doctor should ask important medical questions that might help you improve your chances of success.

10. Trust yourself

If you follow the previous nine steps you will have completed some in-depth medical and market research. You have now enough data, opinion and insight to take a qualified decision. Good luck.

IVF Spain

You may also like

Future Family is a startup aiming to make fertility services like IVF and egg freezing more accessible. They work with doctors and clinics to make the pricing of these services more predictable and upfront, then offer...

Maureen O’Halloran is best known as a celebrity fashion stylist with over 30 years of experience in image & style consultancy for Irish celebrities and female politicians, including clients around Europe. Maureen is...

Writing in the Journal, Health Care Analysis Dr Rebecca Brown argues that obese women are being unfairly denied IVF on the NHS for cost-cutting measures and have just as much a right to treatment as slimmer women. Dr...